Thursday, 27 November 2014

When I was a teenager, I had to wear braces for just over two years. Ever since I have had them removed, I haven't been 100% happy with the whiteness of my teeth. Personally, I think I have relatively white teeth but I do have a few little stains in between which I would like removed. I have tried many teeth whitening products along with the infamous crest whitening strips and found they worked but I still wasn't happy.
So when BlanX got in contact asking if I would like to review their White Shock range, I couldn't turn them down.
I received their complete White Shock range which included a toothpaste, mouthwash, whitening pen and whitening treatment.
I have been using these products together for 2 weeks and thought I would share my results with you.

About BlanX White Shock Products - "From the BlanX laboratories comes BlanX White Shock, the new range of products with a revolutionary patented formula with Actilux®,the active ingredient that uses the power of light to whiten teeth.
This new formula whitens teeth in a completely natural way and is effective from the very first time it's used.
The level of tooth abrasion is very low because it does not contain peroxides, optical whiteners or abrasive silica that can irritate and destroy the enamel.
But it doesn't just whiten, thanks to its ingredients, Actilux® helps maintain your gums healthy and hydrated, removing the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities".

BlanX White Shock Gel Pen - £10*

The White Shock Gel Pen is there to be used on the go. So you can throw it in your handbag and touch up your teeth when you're out and about.

To get the product out of the tube you twist the bottom and it pushes the product to the sponge like applicator making it easy to apply to your teeth.
The instructions say this should be done just twice a day for the best results so I chose to use this product once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
I'm not too sure how I would describe the flavour of this product but I wasn 't too keen on it. I feel it would be more suitable if it had a mint flavour to it.

I do feel that this product didn't really work for me but I will keep it in my handbag for when I feel my teeth need a bit of a touch up.

BlanX White Tooth Paste 50ml & LED - £7.50*

The BlanX White Shock toothpaste is not like any other toothpaste, it comes with a little blue LED light, which you unscrew the lid of and attach it to the tube. This then becomes your cap, so there's no need to keep putting it on and taking it off. The screw top lid on the LED acts a bit like a switch to turn the light on and off. When pressure is applied to the little button it turns off but once loosened, the light turns on.

The blue LED works to accelerate the whitening power of the Actilux. When the toothpaste passes through the light as you squeeze it onto your toothbrush, the formula is activated so it is ready to start working as soon as it hits your teeth and will continue to work throughout the day, when natural light hits it.

I'm really enjoying using this toothpaste. It's lovely and minty and it left my teeth feeling really clean. Oh and it also passed my tongue swipe test...we all do it don't we?

BlanX White Shock LED Bite - £15.99*

The White Shock LED Bite is essentially the same as the toothpaste light but in a gum shield type product.
First you brush your teeth with the toothpaste provided and then before putting the bite into your mouth, spread a layer of product with your finger onto the transparent support. Place the shield into your mouth for as long as desired. The maximum time is 10 minutes and when the time is up, the light will go off and it will beep to let you know that that is the end of the treatment. I think this is a great feature to have as it stops you fussing around with timers.
This treatment can be used daily 2-3 times a day and it comes with a colour chart so you can see if your teeth have changed and become whiter.

BlanX White Shock Mouthwash - £5.99*

I never use to use mouthwash up until about 6 months ago and to be honest, I never thought to pick up a whitening one, so I was intrigued to see how this one worked. I brushed my teeth like normal and then rinsed my mouth with the mouthwash. It was a lovely blue colour and tastes lovely and minty. My teeth were left feeling clean and I was left with lovely fresh breath. I really enjoy using this product and will continue to use it in my teeth brushing routine.

Overall I am really impressed with BlanX White Shock range. All the products were very easy to use and I do feel like they have made a difference to the whiteness of my teeth. My teeth didn't experience any sensitivity which I guess is because the products don't contain any peroxides, optical whiteners or abrasive silica.

BlanX have recently worked with celebrity makeup artist, Cassie Lomas, to create some great makeup tutorials on how to enhance your smile, including a beautiful Christmas party look that’s really simple and easy to recreate. It is such a beautiful look, I love the eye makeup!

You can purchase BlanX White Shock range from Boots, Superdrug, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. (BlanX White Shock products are currently on offer at Boots)

*UPDATE*

BlanX have kindly offered one my lovely readers a chance to win their own BlanX White Shock Teeth Whitening Kit!

Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! UK Only(Blanx will be sending the prize directly to the winner of the giveaway)

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

What They Say | "Cocoa butter creates a creamy soft bath that is great for nourishing and protecting your skin, with the same vanilla-like fragrance as Butterball bath bomb. Moulded into a friendly and sweet-smelling bear, this is sure to be a winner with little and big kids alike!"

What I Say | As soon as I got this lil fella out of the bag, I could smell the sweet vanilla scent.
When popped in the bath, it fizzed away and the room instantly filled with an amazing aroma of vanilla and cocoa butter.
It didn't colour the water but what it did do was it made it super soft. I guess it was because of the little brown bits which are small bits of cocoa butter!
I also found that soaking in this lovely bath, it made shaving my legs so much easier. The razor glided over my legs with ease and my legs were left feeling so smooth!
I'm definitely planning on buying another one or two of these as I think it is so nice and it's so affordable too.Where To Buy |LushPrice | £1.95Rating | 10/10

Monday, 24 November 2014

(Ohhhh my, I must of been having a blonde moment when I was taking these photos as I usually put them on hangers, and then take the photos so you can see the clothes better....whoops!!)
As you can see I picked up a range of what I would call essentials for this time of year. I picked up a selection of nice and cosy jumpers along with a cardigan and tops. You can't go wrong with basics as they are perfect for layering and can be worn with anything.
I won't go into too much detail about the clothes, but they are all long sleeved, apart from the fluffy jumper which is three quarters, they all feel super soft and are perfect for this time of year.

Scarf - £5 | Plaited Headband - £2

I've been on the hunt for a Tartan scarf for a while now and when I spotted this one in Primark for only a fiver, I knew I had to have it. I would says it's quite oversized, which I love. It keeps me nice and warm and it's ever so soft which is perfect as I can't stand scratchy scarves.

Then I picked up this plaited headband. I really like wearing these when my hair's up as I usually rely on my hair, when it's down, to keep my ears warm...ha!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I love statement necklaces and always seem to head to Primark when I'm on the hunt for new ones.
I picked up two statement necklaces and what a bargain they were. I love how a big chunky necklace can instantly jazz up a plain top and make an outfit that bit more special.
When I saw these set of two and three necklaces, I knew I had to put them in my basket. I love the looks you can create when you wear them at different lengths by layering but also think they are perfect to wear on their own, if you want to wear something a little less obvious.
I also picked up a pair of statement earrings to wear for the festive season. At only £1 you can't go wrong with a bit of bling, but unfortunately you can't tell how blingy they are in the photo.

Friday, 21 November 2014

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you would know by now that I am a big fan of Latest In Beauty. If you don't know, Latest in beauty (or LIB for short) sell a range of "beauty boxes designed to accommodate your needs, whatever the circumstances".
The latest box to cause a stir in the blogging world is the second installment of the Dream Box, The Dream Box II again put together by the ever so lovely The Brit Beauty Blog.
If you are interested in seeing what was in the first box you can view that here.The box cost me £21.95 with free postage. Overall all the products total to a value of £129+ which is just amazeballs. (yes I used the word amazeballs!)

Some of the products in the box have different shade variations but I was extremely happy with the colours I received. Let's see what was in the box...

Once again, I am blown away at how many gorgeous products are in this box. I said the last box I received was my favourite, but now I think this box has to be the best beauty box I have received!
The products I'm most excited to try are the Ardell Natural Style Demi Wispies, The Body Shop Beautifying Oil and the Mio Double Buff.
Expect plenty of reviews of these products as I can't wait to use them and let you know how I get on.

What I Say | The Hello Flawless Foundation comes in 9 shades and I got matched up to the shade 'Believe In My Ivory which I think is one of the lightest shades.

I would say it's a light to medium coverage as it didn't cover all my blemishes. So if your skin is anything like mine, you may need to add a touch of concealer on those problem areas, which I tend to do with most foundations anyways.

The formulation of the foundation is very creamy and applies really nicely onto the skin but does feel a little watery.It has an SPF 20 which is why I think this foundation would be perfect to wear in the Summer as I dislike heavy foundations (in the summer) which make you feel like they are melting off your face.

I normally apply my foundation with a brush but with this one in particular, I apply it with my fingers, which leaves my skin looking quite natural with a dewy finish.

I really like the packaging and love the fact that it's a pump bottle. You can see exactly how much product is left and as it's a pump you can determine exactly how much you use.

Overall the Hello Flawless foundation is a really nice foundation if you are looking for a light, dewy day time finish with an SPF.
(I did try taking a picture of this when it was on my face but my camera didn't pick it up very well, so you'll have to make do with a swatch on my hand, sorry!)

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Makeup Revolution are a company I hadn't heard of at the time, but now I see their name appearing left, right and centre in the blogging world and after using this product, I can see why.
I received this palette a good 6 months ago in the Latest In Beauty BBB Dream box and have already hit pan on a couple of the colours!
The Disappear Till Tomorrow Eyeshadow Palette contains sixteen shades, two of which (the bottom two) can be used to fill in your eyebrows.
The palette has a selection of neutral shades with a couple being matte but the majority having a slight shimmer. I use this palette both in the day and night time and think it's such an affordable palette if you are starting out with eyeshadow or you just love a neutral shade or two.
Some of the shimmery shades do have a bit of fallout but hey for a mere £4, you can't complain.
Also, what's to complain about when I am offering one of my lovely readers the chance to win your very own!

For your chance to win your own Disappear Till Tomorrow Eyeshadow Palette, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.

Friday, 14 November 2014

What They Say |"Say hello to younger looking hands with the HAND CHEMISTRY Intense Youth Complex Hand Cream. Featuring a concentrated, multi-functional formula that simultaneously targets eight signs of hand ageing, the nourishing hand cream contains 19.5% active ingredients that work to improve firmness, smoothness and evenness to name but a few."What I Say | My hands get so dry this time of year, so it was almost a god send when I received the Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex Hand Cream*. This is the first time I've heard of Hand Chemistry but I have to say it's one of the nicest hand creams I have used in a long time.
The formula is a thick consistency, so you only need to apply a small amount. It soaks into your hands nice and quickly which I really like as their is nothing worse than a hand cream that just stays on the surface of your skin.
It does have a slight scent to it which I actually like. I would describe it as a light clean kinda fruity scent which lingers for a little while but then fades.
Like suggested on the packaging, I used this hand cream twice a day, for 11 days and I can honestly say I have noticed a difference in the condition of my hands. I wouldn't say I noticed a visible difference but they definitely feel super soft and moisturised.
My mum also tried out this hand cream and she was impressed. Unlike me, she wasn't keen on the scent but was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it soaked in and how nice and soft her hands felt after use.
It is slightly pricey at £18.99 a tube but I really do suggest you check out Hand Chemistry if you are looking for an amazing hand cream. They also sell a hand cream to specifically hydrate your hands and a cream for your heels, which I'm interested in! See their full range here.
I've just seen they also sell a mini size which I'm tempted to purchase to keep in my handbag, as I can see myself using this hand cream a lot, especially this time of year!Where To Buy |Lookfantastic, Boots

Saturday, 8 November 2014

Hand Chemistry Intense Youth Complex* | I recently got sent this and I have to say, it's mynew favourite hand cream. It's a lovely thick cream but sinks in like a dream, leaving your hands feeling silky soft. I will be writing a full review on this soon.Origins Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Face Mask | Oh I do love Origins products and this one has been doing my skin wonders. Throughout October, I was experimenting with makeup more practicing halloween makeup, so my skin was getting a bit of a battering. But this lil beauty helped keep my skin under control and keep those spots away.Lee Stafford Hair Growth Leave In Treatment |I featured this in my August/September favourites but I had to add it again into October. I have really noticed a difference in my hair since using this. The condition of my hair feels much nicer and it feels like my hair has grown too.

Benefit Bella Bamba | This is one of those products I had in my collection which didn't get much loving. I re-discovered it at the beginning on the month and have been using it since. It's very pigmented so you only need a little bit but it gives your cheeks a lovely warm glow.MAC Plumful Lipstick | I love this lipstick for this time of year. It's the perfect plum colour to wear from day to day and also looks amazing for a night time look. I think I will do a post dedicated to this lipstick as it's gorgeous.The Body Shop Born Lippy In Passionberry | I have a few of these sitting in my makeup collection in various shades but decided to pick this one in passionberry as I'm loving these plummy shades at the moment.It has a slight plummy tint to it and leaves my lips feel smooth and moisturised.Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Plum Nail Varnish | You can tell I've been lovely the colour purple recently. This is one of my recent purchases and it's such a lovely shade to wear on your nails. It's a deep dark purple with gorgeous shine.

Friday, 7 November 2014

What They Say | "Cast a Jingle Spell over weariness with this shimmering bubble bar that makes bath time magic. With energising tangerine oil and purifying juniperberry and fennel essential oils, the Wizard banishes stress and helps you recover. Perfect for those occasions when you've over-indulged, the Wizard will disappear after Halloween, so grab enough to see you through the party season."What I Say |Bubble bars are one of my favourite products from Lush. They always produce lots of lovely fluffy bubbles and this one didn't disappoint. I crumbled it under the running water and my bath turned purple and bubbly.
The only thing I wasn't to keen on was the smell. It's hard to describe but it's quite a strong smell. I like typical sweet and fruity scents but this was a bit musky, not for me.
This was a limited edition product for Halloween, so unfortunately you may not be able to get your hands on it but it is still available online if you would like one.Where To Buy |Lush

If you've been reading my blog for a while and keeping up to date with my twitter, you would have noticed that I have a little obsession with smoothies.
I love smoothies and find they are a quick and easy way to get your 5 a day.
I received the Breville Blend Active for my birthday back in July after seeing it on Tanya Burr's Youtube channel. Since then I have seen it pop up in quite a few blogspots and youtube channels.

The Breville Blend Active comes with two bottles and two lids. This is great because it means you can drink your smoothie in the same bottle you blended it in, saving you time in the morning and it also means less washing up.
The blender is super easy to set up. You just add your ingredients into the bottle, clip it into the base of the blender and you’re good to go! It really is as simple as that!

For this smoothie I added Raspberries, Blueberries, Mango, Strawberries and Bananas but of course you can add what ever you like. I also added a little bit of icy water as I had run out of ice cubes but again you could add juice if you'd prefer.
It does come with a little booklet full of different smoothies to help give you an idea of what you can create along with some alcoholic smoothies, yum!

Prices vary depending where you purchase it from but this one costs £20 from Amazon.

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Today I want to share with you what I dressed up for Halloween. I really struggled this year as what to go as, but eventually I decided on a Sugar Skull.
After looking at many pictures of Sugar Skulls and watching tutorials, I came up with this. I'm really impressed with how it turned out and got many compliments on the finished look.
My costume consisted of this 'onesie' from ebay, which I was a bit unsure of when it arrived as it's a bit figure hugging, shall we say but I tried to rock it anyways.
Onto the makeup. I used a white face paint and painted my whole face. I used black eyeshadow/eyeliner to draw and fill in a circle around my eyes. I then made them into flowers and coloured each petal pink and stuck on individual sequins onto each petal.
I then drew some extra detail with black eyeliner; the web on the forehead, swirls around the lips, a glittery flower on my chin and teeth lines.

For accessories I added a flower crown, gold cross earrings and a gold necklace. And for the nails, I already had some false nails which I just painted white and then cut out the water decals from ebay and stuck them on.
I curled my hair using heated rollers and backed combed it to give it lots of volume.
After my mum took these photos, I touched up on the black areas (especially around the eyes as I had a weird black unblended line) to make them darker and made the outline details darker.
Considering I owned everything apart from the onesie and nail transfers, it was a cheap yet effective costume and I loved it. What do you guys think?